Texas, July 1 -- Norway's star footballer Erling Haaland said "this is bigger than football" after the team performed their iconic 'Viking Row' following their 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in a tightly contested FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 encounter, sealing their place in the Round of 16 after a dramatic late winner from Haaland on Tuesday (local time).

Notably, the 'Viking Row' is a popular celebration in which fans imitate the synchronised rowing of a traditional Viking ship. It represents unity, strength, and a collective fighting spirit. Much like the Vikings of history who rowed together before heading into battle, modern Norwegian supporters perform the gesture in unison to express team spirit and back their football side.

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